Sheet metal terminal connector



1954 o. J. POUPITCH SHEET METAL TERMINAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1950 INVEN TOR asa (242322 192 NOV. 9, 1954 Q J. PQUPITCH 2,694,188

SHEET METAL TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed April 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patentfi 2,694,188 si-t-nhnrviatrnn TERMINAL CQNNEGTOR Ouglfiesa JulesirPoupitch; Chicago;:Illwassighoritoitlllinois as Toolsworks z Chicago,:.-Ill., ta corporation.- ofhlllinois T his: invention relates-generally rto electrioahconnectors, and .more particularly to felectricaltconnectors :of thehtype adaptedntozeffect connectioni-with Fan: electrical conductor: by the; mere :longitudinal' insertion of. thenconduetor ;within 1 the-connecton-z:

Electrical. 1 connectors 1 have: heretofore been employed. which lrequirer-crimpinguof theviconnectornstock :or them application :01" solderlto complete-electrical;coupling .with a conductorrsuchas thezfree endofzza' wirerorzcable. a It s: is anrimportantaobject of;:t heipresentdnventionzto avoid the, necessity of stockcrimping or fsolder tand to :this end: the, invention, contemplates an: .clectrical'connector capablewi of being, formed from-Pa Singifi.ShfiQli10fgstock3alldlolkdfirw gned as toetfecnpositive le trical contact cwithm cone-1 ductor: elements' ysmerelyi s rting. theifiree yextrernityrofc the conductor; within an elongate ..-c.onne.etor aecti More sp cifieallyn he inventi n:c ntemplat seanhelecr trical connector. of :thejype; referredztoabovsmin iwhieh :as s. a result of the; lona u inahinsertionz herein f;-.th .:;fre x rem yi fva Wire or:c bl rc naec orrt ethw ll ig-ares sivelycontact the conductor;andthmconneetor williyieldrs. ablygurge .the, conductor; into con taet .with isaid teet h It is a further object of the present invention toprovide an ele tri al. c nne oras ab v .e tli edv W QhJEDaYI' Qe p d v v -s ple amp n -a d. saidconnectonbeing iiorrnedirom a single gpi metal stock and equipgedwithmounting sections f1 ous designs. to accommodate t the requirements;of,;the;de vice to which the connector. is to beattached The foregoing and .otheufibjects, a-nd-advantages yvilll be more apparent, from the followed description when;- on L 4 sidered'in; COBHeCt-iQnqWlth;-the accompanying drawings wherein? l l Fig...l is a perspectiveyiewpf amelectricalconne ctor which is representative of one embodiment of the invention, said connector-beingshown.withg'thefree;end of a conductor wire coupled thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlargedcentral vertiealsectional view of the electrical connector shown in Fig. ;1, said view being; 1 takenzalong' thenline 2-2 of Fig. 4;... I I

Fig: 5 is a plan view of the electricahconnector shown 5 in Figs; 1 and'2;

.4 is amen i w .of. e. nn ctor-:- t bistan=..- tially along theyline 4-4 of Fig. 2;

1 i a p n .v ew o t ablau o as a p gitmmt whi h thezzconnec or o F g l 10.5 inclusi mayi'begg produced; i

Fig. 6 is a plan view ofa slightlymodified embodiment of the invention, wherein a pair-of- "connector accommodatingvsections extend from opposite; sides of a .cen tral-;moun ting-,s ection3 5 Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 represents a still further modification somewhat similar to the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, but diifering therefrom in the use of a central mounting section of reduced size;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 3 illustrating the manner 75.

in which the struck out teeth aggressively impinge a peripheral portion of the conductor, and the wing portions yieldably bear against the oppositely disposed peripheral surface areas of the conductor;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modified form of the elec- 8 trical connector contemplated by the present invention,

between the plate 18 and the wihg e len entgm 2 wherein thek-eonductonengaging -teeth are '--struck-out'{-of-- t the wings-as distinguished frorn"the base -of'.the'connector;

Figi12 is anaenlarged tran-sverse sectional- :view- .of t-hei device showncingFigtnl 1;

Figinl3 is a plan viwofiastill=further modifiedeform ofm the connector designethtoaccommodate a pair. of .the' conductorss-ii Fig; 14 is an.enlarged transversetsectional yiew taken-.. substantially zalongtthe lineal 4+cl4ioft Fig; .l 3;

Fig. :15w'is a transversesectional viewxsimila-rrto Fig. .141 illustrating;;.-a lconnector forraccommod-atingma pair .Ofw." conductorsiawherein' the struelc-out-teethiare provided inn. the ibase'portion; and .1

Fig.5;l 6: is 'a' plan: view of; another modified= form of; the: .s connectoni capableizofaccommodating;conductors inserted a fromaoppositel ends; thereof.

Referring. now ito-rthe. drawing tmore -in detail: wherein like numerals are-employed .rto designate similartparts p. throughout the yarious-figures, it Wl-1.i;.'lb-i$6fl: that the: embodiment 50f. the -ele ;tric;a1- conn ctor. illustrated; in Figs. 1 to :i/illClllSiYfigfiHd =Eig...;l0; :is designated generally .:by:-. the numeral .1 .Theconnecmn11-2:includessanielongated. nductor;accommodatingsection14am .a mountingsse. n. .14 f rmed iin egralewith the; section r14 andextendina I l rall heremf. 2.

fiction .1 aheaicro sa ection .10ft)Whichds more: arly- 1lust ated in. incl desea sheettmetal ba P ei tp rt onitfizhayingstruc ou rteethltl; pace lone. gitudinally thereof and ex ten p te l ke i fii idi t nc ip f sa ane oft-thee. pag ap ia e yfl d tonora q med n e ral .with en. ma -r Q .t ei asamatewia e2-. i ientrw nare emants124- 1 base w -aate mem ay a a inclined toward each other so as to cooperate yvith the p e iu eenti ;a nai ndina 'e .l Q ;=9 io i at pg-I ndt tor 2 ezin er rfaces iadias ntfi ei ee..ma i nt reo tr mthavt eth 54a sl st n etwh c sl; q i :S? i iW emmtszto flezs-putwa sily p nct ea rtio -lea hefir e... tr mit-y .Q ha QsiLt QtQ thesewingele ents sen-vetoyield ma are n electrica 2 3 F -55:1 2: uS,-;.ribs ,-serve vas the connecting;hinge, a itlwergj. e d s losed: lerto t at-p an s;

hetsonnccta mauntina-a. stiom .ti bod m n x en sisuhstan ial yrp a d i p ovi ed w h per u e 2 t is fault t oun ting.1; :-t e semester. 11119.1 .t ei dQYi eC/i in w hz l s. oat ii wmarateda ixi d llli llnp ut: t r late.

@Ull tjs n ral. b th icu rms-r .ioueadepe d n n 1 119. 1) t e. e-Qanectqr s t .be emp oye heltee hal a .-s .:t rmed th w-.

ely: ZCi R QEQZLt Q'. .c n uct a os t vsv lectr c l; contac t :1 theys:?1$$; s- -IQ. eformy a 'n onpermitil gitud na .einm. sertion of the conductor 22 into the connector section 14 (namely, to the left, Figs. 2 and 3) and likewise to resist forces tending to retract the conductor.

Thus, the conductor accommodating section of the connector contemplated by the present invention serves automatically to lock a conductor in place and simultaneously establish positive electrical contact Without the necessity of crimping, soldering or the like.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a slightly modified form of connector is shown. This connector is designated generally by the numeral 12a and includes a pair of oppositely disposed conductor accommodating sections 14a. The elements constituting these locking sections 14a are identical with the corresponding elements of the sections 14 previously described, and hence are designated by correspending numbers bearing the sutfix a.

tfl i nlyis er eagre 22 ,an thereb establis The mounting or anchoring portion of the connector 12a is designated by the numeral 16a and is provider with an aperture 28a to facilitate mounting thereof.

The connector 12b illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 -is identical with the connector 12a just described, except that the central mounting section 16b is not apertured and consists merely of a narrow strip, as distinguished from the relatively wide apertured mounting section 16a. The other elements of the connector 1212 are illustrated by corresponding numbers bearing the suffix b.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a further modified form of the connector is shown and is designated generally by the numeral 126. This connector 120 is similar to the connector 12, differing only therefrom in the provision of struck out teeth 20c in the Wings 246, as distinguished from the teeth 20 of the connector 12 which are struck out from the base. All other parts of the connector 12c are given numerals with the sulnx a corresponding to the numerals used in identifying the parts of the connector 12. 180 is preferably depressed along its central portion to accommodate the periphery of the conductor 22.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a further modified form of the connector designated generally by the numeral 12d. The connector 12d differs from the previously described connectors in that it is designed to accommodate a pair of conductors inserted from one end thereof. The base 18d is provided with a central bead or rib 34 which separates the connector into a pair of longitudinal chambers for accommodating the conductors 22. The teeth 20d are struck out from the wings 24d and cooperate with the base 18d in securing the conductors against inadvertent longitudinal displacement.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 14 disclosing a conductor 12e which difiers structurally from the conductor 12d in providing the struck out teeth 20e in the base portion 182, as distinguished from the connector 12d.

Fig. 16 discloses a connector 12) designed to accommodate conductors inserted from opposite ends thereof. It will be noted that the struck out teeth 201 on one of the Wings 24 extend in a direction to permit insertion of the conductor from one end of the connector, and the teeth 20f in the other wing are disposed so as to permit insertion of the conductor from the opposite end of the connector. In this manner the connector 12] may serve as a coupling between a pair of conductors. The connector 12 does not incorporate any auxiliary structure for mounting the device in position. Such a structure could, of course, be employed in instances where necessary.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates an electrical connector of extremely simple and practical construction capable of being produced from sheet metal stock by the practice of simple stamping and forming operations. It will also be apparent that a single connector constructed in accordance with the present invention may be used to accommodate conductors of varying sizes. In other Words, the yieldability of the wing elements makes it possible to insert the free extremities of wires or cables of varying diameters without the necessity of employing a connector of more than one size. These yieldable wing elements cooperate efiiciently to urge a complementary conductor against the teeth in the base plate. Also, the disposition or inclination of the struck out portions of the base plate facilitate the ease with which the conductor may be inserted Within the connector, and after insertion these teeth serve aggressively to resist longitudinal It will also be noted that the base portion retraction of the conductor. Obviously, the connector may be made in various sizes, shapes and forms in order to adapt its application to the electrical device upon which it is to be mounted. Thus, the conductor accommodating section or sections may be combined with mounting or anchoring sections of a wide variety of shapes and forms without departing from the scope of the present invention.

While for purposes of illustration certain specific embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be understood that other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A one-piece sheet metal electrical connector for permanent attachment with an electrical conductor, and comprising a base portion and integral resilient wing portions along substantially the entire extent of the longitudinal margins of said base portion, the said wing portions being inclined away from the base portion and having the free edges thereof disposed in directions approaching one another and forming with said base portion a housing to receive inserted conductors of crosssectional sizes sufiicient to urge the wing portions outwardly to stressed conditions exerting components of force toward the base portion for clamping the conductor therebetween, the wing portions and base portion forming said housing having inner surfaces providing three-surface longitudinal engagement for an inserted conductor, at least one of said surfaces having spaced substantially rigid integral teeth disposed substantially throughout the length thereof struck from within the confines thereof with transversely extending biting free edges projecting away from the entry end of the housing to facilitate the insertion of the conductor and urge the wing portions outwardly, another of said surfaces providing continuous surface contact with the inserted conductor throughout the longitudinal extent of said spaced teeth and in substantial opposition thereto for impressing uniform pressure on the conductor throughout the longitudinal extent of the spaced teeth to assure uniform biting action of each of the teeth into the conductor and thereby ensuring good electrical contact, and means associated with the housing for providing connection with another electrical conductor.

2. A one-piece sheet metal electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means providing the connection with another electrical conductor comprises a mounting flange angularly disposed with respect to said housing and wherein there is provided a rib traversing the juncture angle between the housing and mounting flange for resisting relative displacement therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 142,105 Meminger Aug. 14, 1945 1,369,221 Currier Feb. 22, 1921 1,568,585 Brune Jan. 5, 1926 2,109,073 Nieman Feb. 23, 1938 2,116,269 Kobzy May 3, 1938 2,514,336 Paige July 4, 1950 ..2,551,844 Kueck May 8, 1951 2,559,174 Skony July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 614,897 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1948 

